Carlos Jimenez Saldana, 58, of Austin, is accused of pocketing $77,000 in Social Security Administration funds he never should’ve touched. Federal agents hauled him in Tuesday on a felony theft of government money charge, capping a nearly eight-year scheme that ran from August 2006 to March 2014. Authorities say Saldana knowingly collected benefits to which he had no legal claim, draining taxpayer-backed programs meant for the truly vulnerable.
David Royce Davis, 60, also of Austin, faces a dual assault on the system under the alias Maverick Garrett. Indicted on two counts of Social Security Fraud and two counts of Aggravated Identity Theft, Davis allegedly used the Social Security Number of a dead man to renew his Texas driver’s license in July 2015. Weeks later, he used that same SSN to apply for a new Social Security card. Impersonating the deceased to secure state and federal documents isn’t just fraud—it’s a brazen middle finger to the system.
Lameka Alexander Lowe, 36, Austin, tried a different angle—playing the system from within. Charged with one count of felony Theft of Government Funds and two counts of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits fraud, Lowe allegedly hid the fact that her son’s father lived in her household and earned income. By concealing his presence and earnings, she kept collecting unauthorized SSI benefits for her child. From December 2009 to June 2015, she raked in over $40,000 in ill-gotten cash.
The November 1, 2016 federal grand jury indictments mark the culmination of an investigation led by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, alongside federal prosecutors. Each defendant now stares down serious time: theft of government money brings up to ten years in federal prison; Social Security Fraud, up to five; aggravated identity theft comes with a mandatory two-year sentence; and SSI benefits fraud carries up to five years behind bars.
All three suspects were processed and released on bond following initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Austin. Arraignments are set for November 18, 2016, in Austin federal court. Special Assistant United States Attorney Yvonne S. Gonzalez is handling prosecution, underscoring the DOJ’s ongoing crackdown on abuse of Social Security programs.
The Social Security Administration estimates billions in annual losses across its OASDI and SSI programs due to fraud. These arrests signal that federal investigators are tightening the screws. But with crooked claims slipping through nationwide, authorities warn these cases are likely just the tip of the iceberg. An indictment is not a conviction—these defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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